Better late than never ......

The Western Isles council SNP group welcome the late arrival of councillor Angus McCormack to a disgraceful issue facing islanders almost a year after Angus Brendan Macneil first raised it in the House of Commons.

Statement from Western Isles Council SNP Group on new ferry

The Western Isles Council SNP Group welcomes news of the investment in a new ferry for the Tarbert/Lochmaddy/Lochmaddy triangle.

Open letter to Derek Mackay regarding Uist turbines

In light of the recent decision by the Scottish Government minister Derek Mackay, Western Isles Council SNP Group leader councillor Donald Manford has written the minister highlighting the implications and consequences of his decision and to seek a way forward....

Open letter to Angus Campbell regarding the Living Wage

 Dear Angus,

At the last Budget Setting meetings in February this year, the SNP Group were delighted that your administration agreed with us that the Living Wage should be implemented.

Strengthening Local Democracy

SNP councillor for Stornoway North Gordon Murray welcomed the Comhairle's openness to devolving more powers from the local authority to communities.

Energy, ESCo and the Economy of the Hebrides part 2

At the recent committee series ending 2nd October 2014, there was a welcome discussion on the Energy Supply Company through a report presented to the Sustainable Development Committee. A concept which the SNP Group have been pushing the council to take control of the swathes of potential renewable energy and generate clean electricity at huge discounts for every household in the Outer Hebrides.

Laxdale buses - an open letter to Angus Campbell

Dear Angus,

I am writing this email on the back of correspondence I have had from very disappointed parents regarding the changes in school transport provision for children from the Bakers Road / Benside area to the Nicolson institute.

Changes of the bus routes had only been notified to parents late last week just before the term starts adding to the anxiety of some of the parents, why it took so long has not been explained

According to the minute of the Education Committee meeting of April 15 Item 20 :

The Report stated that the Comhairle agreed in March 2013, as part of the implementation of the Budget Strategy 2013-2015 to introduce a revised Home to School Travel Policy and, specifically, the discontinuation of three school bus contracts serving Laxdale Primary, and The Nicolson Institute, subject to all required road safety and traffic management improvements being implemented.

The decision of council is unambiguous that no changes would be made until all road safety measures were in place. This has not happened and yet, the bus changes have taken place. As a local councillor the fact that the walking route for children was to be made safe was of great comfort especially to parents. 

I have checked the records and there is no amendment to this decision and therefore, I am at a loss where a decision can be overturned without going through the committee first. I have copied the chair and vice chair of Audit and Scrutiny into this email regarding this context.

Why has your administration not enacted the minute of the council meeting referenced above thus causing anxiety and distress to parents and children as well as placing the children in a dangerous position.

I would urge you to divert the buses that have capacity for Bakers Road/Benside Nicolson Institute students up round the aforementioned loop and also ensure that there is a bus going through Newvalley and Marybank until a time that the roads and walking routes are deemed safe to walk and that the necessary work is done.

I look forward to hearing from you,





Yours sincerely,

Gordon Murray